Folding table



H. M U ELLER FOLDING TABLE Feb 14, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1966 2 IN VENIOR HERMAN MUELLER AT TORNEY H. MUELLER FOLDI NG TABLE Feb. 14, 1 967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1966 FIG.

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FIG. 6

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INVENIOR.

H ERMAN MUELLER 4244 AT TORNEY b- 14, 1967 H.- MUELLER 3,393,797

FOLDING TABLE Filed Jan. 24, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiG. u

1N VENTOR.

HERMAN MUELLER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,363,797 FGLDING TABLE Herman Mueller, 640 Beebe Road, Niles, Mich. 4912!) Filed Jan. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 522,517 7 Claims. (Cl. 10863) The present invention relates to folding tables and more particularly to a table adapted to fold into a generally right triangle shape.

The conventional and extensively used folding table is folded in one direction usually, with the use of drop leaves on opposite sides hinged to an elongated center section which may be expandable and contractable by inserting and removing leaves. For these tables to fit into the decor of most rooms, the table, when not in use, must be placed along a rather long wall at the side of the room. This limits the number of suitable arrangements of furniture in a room and often causes actual or apparent crowding of the furniture pieces in the room. Attempts have been made in the past to utilize the corners of the room by making specially designed tables which could be extended into a usable dinette table, but these prior tables have been unattractive when in either folded or unfolded positions, or have been too difiicult to fold and unfold to be practical for every day use as a dining or utility table. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a folding table when, when unfolded, has a relatively large surface suitable for comfortably seating four to six people, and which, when folded, assumes a generally right triangle configuration for fitting into a corner or other generally square cornered space or furniture arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding table which, when in its unfolded position, is circular in shape and when in its folded position is a quarter round section adapted to fit conveniently into corners or other confined areas of a room, and which can be conveniently used in its folded position, as well as its unfolded position, without interference from the individual folding sections or movable legs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a folding table of the aforesaid type which will unfold into a full round table comparable to a similar table of the nonfolding type, and which can readily and easily be folded into a quarter section table with the folded leaves being located in inconspicuous, out of the way positions.

A further object is to provide a relatively simple, easily operated folding table which can be conveniently folded and unfolded, and which is sufficiently sturdy and reliable in its unfolded position for use as a day-in and day-out dining and/ or utility table.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present table showing it in its unfolded position;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the present table;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the fully folded table:

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the fully folded table;

FIGURE 5 isanother side elevational view of the fully folded table;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the tables, the section being taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the table, the section being taken on line 7-7 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the table, the section being taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 4;

33%,??? Patented Feb. 14-, 1957 FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view showing the table in its partially folded condition;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view, the section being taken on line Iil10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view, the section being taken on line 1111 of FIG- URE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged cross sectional View, the section being taken on line l2l2. of FIGURE 7.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and to FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, numeral 12 designates generally the present table having a top 14, sides 16 and peripheral legs 18, 2t), 22 and 24, and a center leg 26. The size of the table and the configuration of the legs and other parts may be varied to modern or other period of design, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The legs 18 and 2! are connected rigidly to center leg 26 by radially positioned members 28 and 3h dovetailed or joined by mortise and tenon or other suitable joint or securing means. These two legs remain in fixed position and are held firmly in this position by a quarter section member 32 of arcuate configuration, paralleling the eriphery of the table top and secured at opposite ends to the respective legs 18 and 21; by mortise and tenon or other suitable joint. Legs 22 and 24 are movable from the positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, i.e. equally spaced from one another and respectively from legs 2%) and 1'8, to the positions shown in FIGURE 5 with legs 22 and 24 in contact with or in close proximity to legs 20 and 18, respectively. Legs 22 and 24 are connected to center leg 26 by pivoted members 34 and 36, the two members being pivoted to the center leg by a hinge 33. The hinge is secured to the inner ends of members 34 and 36 by parts 49 and 42, respectively, and to the center leg by part 44. Legs 22 and 2d are held in spaced relation when the table is in its unfolded position by arcuate inserts 46, 43 and 5d, member 46 being removably secured to legs 29 and 22, member 48 being removably secured to legs 22 and 24, and member 59 being removably secured to legs 13 and 24. These removable members are connected to the legs by a modified mortise and tenon joint having an open top which permits the tongue 52 on the respective member to slip freely into and from vertical slot or groove 54 in the respective leg. Variou other types of securing means can be used to attach members 46, 43 and to the respective legs and to hold them in horizontal position with the upper edge of the members on a plane with the upper end of the leg, i.e. the bottom of top 14, so that a snug joint is provided throughout the length of the respective members and the underside of the table top. When legs 22 and 24 are to be moved from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 5, the three members 46, 48 and 50 are removed from between the respective legs, and the two legs then swung inwardly as supported by pivoted members 34 and 36.

The table top 14 consists of one stationary part 6%, two downwardly folding parts 62. and 64, and an upwardly folding part 66. Downwardly folding parts 62 and 64 are hinged by hinges 6S and 68' and 7t) and 79' to the underside of the respective edge of section 69 and pivot from the positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 to the positions shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. The radial sides of sections 62 and 64 meet near the center to form a point, whereas the radial sides of section terminate at a transverse edge '72 to which a similar edge of section is pivoted by a hinge 74. The length of edge 72 may be made shorter if desired, the length being determined primarily by the required strength of the hinge holding section as to section 61 As illustrated in FIGURES 3, 5

and S, the hinge 7 4 permits section 66 to be moved through a vertical are substantially 180 from the horizontal position shown in FIGURE 1 to the horizontal position shown in the latter mentioned figures. Section 60 is rigidly secured to members 28, 30 and 32 by screws or any other suitable permanent securing means. Thus, the three legs 18, 2t) and 26, together with these members and top section 60, form a rigid structure for supporting the movable members consisting primarily of legs 22 and 24, members 34 and 36, and top sections 62, 64 and 66.

When the table is to be used for a dining or utility table, it is preferably unfolded to its fullest position, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the two legs 22 and 24 spaced substantially equally from legs 18 and 20 and from one another, and with sections 46, 48 and 50 in place between the respective legs, holding the legs 22 and 24 firmly in their spaced positions. When the table is in this position, the outer edges of sections 62, 64 and 66 are supported by legs 22 and 24 and/or members 48 and 50. This construction forms a rigid table which may serve as a permanent table of the shape shown. When the table is to be folded, section 66 is first raised and pivoted over onto the top of section 60, thus exposing member 48, which can now be lifted upwardly from the slot or groove 54 and fully removed from the table. With section 48 removed, legs 22 and 24 can be moved toward one another suificiently to permit members 46 and 50 to be easily slipped from the slots in the respective legs 20 and 22, and 18 and 24. When sections 46 and 50 have been removed, the two legs 22 and 24 are swung toward legs 20 and 18 on members 34 and 36 until the two legs are in contact with or in close proximity to legs 22 and 24. When the legs are moved into this position, members 34 and 36 and legs 22 and 24 are completely folded under the adjoining respective edge of member 60, the respective edge being identified in FIGURE 2 by numerals 60A and 603. With the two legs 22 and 24 and members 34 and 36 beneath the respective edges of section 60, sections 62 and 64 can thence pivot downwardly to the positions best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. The table is now fully folded and can be carried or pushed as a unit into a square corner of the room, and when it is in the corner, sections 62 and 64 face the wall, thus being concealed or inconspicuous, and section 66 lies on the top of the section 6-0. The two sections 60 and 66 form a double thickness top. This, however, is inconspicuous and does not create an unpleasing apperance.

The quarter section folded arrangement of the present table not only permits the table to be effectively used as a corner table, but it can be used in combination with other furniture, such as chairs, stands and the like, set at various angles and positions in forming any desired decor or furniture arrangement of a room. Further, if it is preferred to have the table located along a straight wall, section 66 and either section 62 or 64 can be folded into their normal folded position, leaving the opposing section 62 or 64 unfolded. While this creates an offset in the surface and in the line edge placed against the wall, the table, nevertheless, is not unattractive and can be used for a variety of different purposes.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A folding table comprising two spaced peripheral legs, a center leg, said legs being held in spaced relation to one another, a first horizontally positioned top section of generally triangular shape being connected to said legs to form a rigid structure therewith, two horizontally movable peripheral legs, means pivotally connecting said movable legs to said center leg, two opposed top sections adjacent opposite sides of said first top section, means for pivoting said opposed sections to said first section for pivotal movement from a horizontal position downwardly to a vertical position, a last top section disposed between said opposed sections when said opposed sections are in their horizontal positions, and means for pivoting said last section to said first section for movement from a position opposite said first section to a position on top of said first section.

2. The folding table as defined in claim 1, in which two rigid members connect said first two legs to said center leg and two pivoted members connect said two movable legs to said center leg.

3. The folding table as defined in claim 1, in which said first and last top sections have blunt inner ends connected to one another by a pivot means.

4. The tfolding table as defined in claim 1, in which the means for pivoting said last section from its horizontal position opposite said first section pivots said last section upwardly, over and downwardly onto the top of said first section.

5. The folding table as defined in claim 1, in which the top consists of four sections, with opposite sections being of the same general shape.

6. The folding table as defined in claim 1, in which the top is circular and a rigid arcuate member is disposed between and connected to said first mentioned legs, and arcuate members are removably disposed between said first two mentioned legs and the respective last two mentioned legs and an arcuate member is disposed between said last two mentioned legs to form with said legs a complete peripheral side structure for said table.

7. The folding table as defined in claim 1, in which said first and last top sections have a blunt inner end in substantial abutment with one another, said second and third top sections having pointed inner ends and being spaced from one another by said first and last mentioned sections, each of said legs having members extending therefrom to the center leg and the members from said last two mentioned legs being pivotally connected to the center leg, and in which said second and third top sections are supported by hinge means at the respective edge of said first top section to fold downwardly therefrom, and said last top section is hinged to the blunt end of said first top section to pivot upwardly, over and downwardly onto said first top section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 726,787 4/1903 Turner 108-112 927,773 7/1909 Buel 1081 12 1,308,350 7/1919 Gay 10866 2,184,976 12/1939 McFall 10866 2,292,292 8/1942 Komeyn l081 12 2,654,647 10/1953 Murray 108-112 FOREIGN PATENTS 847,405 9/ 1960 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

F. K. ZUGEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FOLDING TABLE COMPRISING TWO SPACED PERIPHERAL LEGS, A CENTER LEG, SAID LEGS BEING HELD IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, A FIRST HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED TOP SECTION OF GENERALLY TRIANGULAR SHAPE BEING CONNECTED TO SAID LEGS TO FORM A RIGID STRUCTURE THEREWITH, TWO HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE PERIPHERAL LEGS, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID MOVABLE LEGS TO SAID CENTER LEG, TWO OPPOSED TOP SECTIONS ADJACENT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FIRST TOP SECTION, MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID OPPOSED SECTIONS TO SAID FIRST SECTION FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT FROM A HORIZONTAL POSITION DOWNWARDLY TO A VERTICAL POSITION, A LAST TOP SECTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID OPPOSED SECTIONS WHEN SAID OPPOSED SECTIONS ARE IN THEIR HORIZONTAL POSITIONS, AND MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID LAST SECTION TO SAID FIRST SECTION FOR MOVEMENT FROM A POSITION OPPOSITE SAID FIRST SECTION TO A POSITION ON TOP OF SAID FIRST SECTION. 